Kylian Mbappe slammed for being 'slow and lazy' as French media savage Real Madrid star

Kylian Mbappe was brutally critiqued by the French press after his Real Madrid debut, despite scoring in the 2-0 win. Los Blancos faced Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday – with the 25-year-old making his competitive debut under Carlo Ancelotti.

Federico Valverde opened the scoring at the National Stadium Warsaw on the 59th minute, a tap-in after Vinicius Junior made light work of a crowded box before squaring it to the midfield maestro who was unmarked and waiting to strike. Mbappe doubled Madrid’s lead nine minutes later, running onto a ball from Jude Bellingham in the centre of the box before smashing it into the top right corner.

And while Real Madrid lifted the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday thanks to the win, French media were incredibly critical of Mbappe’s performance – some outlets dubbing him ‘slow and lazy’. One journalist on RMC Decouverte, said: “Mbappe has been in line with what he has done in recent games with France, quite slow and lazy, with the difficulties he has playing as a number nine.” Another on the evening talk show added: “He had good will, he tried to move in the attacking front.

“Although he was less inspired, he scored his first goal that will go down in history with Real Madrid.” Meanwhile, a journalist for Canal+ France, said: “I saw him not being able to connect with his teammates and he has to find those connections. He has to make more movements and they will come.”

They added: “It is a good goal because of the connection with his teammates. He has not been brilliant, but he has scored in his first game, so he is relieved. Once again, for an attacker the most important thing is to score.”

L’Equipe TV, meanwhile, said of the Frenchman: “Mbappe scored a good goal and it is a dream to play for Madrid. The coach puts you in at the first opportunity and you score. It is more important to score in the first game because of the media, rather than having a good game, because Mbappe didn’t play a good game.”

However, in Spain, the press was far more complimentary of Mbappe’s performance for his new club. Football specialist Frederic Hermel said: “He is very intelligent, he knows what he has to do. He knows that Real is a much bigger club than him, and that was not necessarily the case when he was in his previous clubs, he understood that the institution is bigger than all the players.”

Reflecting on the match himself, meanwhile, Mbappe told Canal+: “I imagined it in many ways (the evening) but starting with a title… Just playing for this club, everyone knows what that means to me. It’s incredible, the atmosphere was magical. When you say Real Madrid, you say titles, it’s very important.”

He added: “Of course, for a player like me, being decisive right away, that leaves a mark. I’m very happy even if there are always things to improve and I’m aware of that.” Mbappe left a bitter taste in the mouths of PSG fans when he chose to part ways with the Ligue 1 giants this summer.

The Frenchman came up through the ranks of Monaco before making his way to the French capital in a £165million deal in 2018 – going on to win six league trophies, four Coup de France titles, and three Trophee des Champions. He scored 256 goals in 308 games for Les Parisiens, before leaving for Real Madrid on a free transfer at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.